66 t is a means of giving
Wealth to ourparents,"
Z said one girl-the ulti
mate rationalefor the lip
plate tradition. The largest
example we saw (right)
requiredthis woman's hus
band to pay more than 50
cattle to herfamily. An older
woman whose plateprobably
fetched about30 cattle makes
a new, smaller clay disk
(left). Red and black pow
ders add color, and after
drying the plate will be fire
bakedfor 20 minutes.
At about age 20, a wom
an's lower lip is pierced, a
painfulprocess that can lead
to infection. A very small
disk is inserted andgradually
replacedby largerplates over
the course of a year. Today's
modern round clay plates
replace more traditionaltrap
ezoidal versions made of
wood (below left). One day
one of Kolaholi's wives, with
herplate removed, kissed
Carol, who experienced an
extraordinarywarm, wet sen
sationfrom her cheekbone to
her chin.
National Geographic,February1991